SOUTH BEND — City officials are making plans to improve the public parks and trails along the St. Joseph River.
And they want your input.
On Thursday morning, the South Bend Redevelopment Commission voted to hire SmithGroupJJR, a Detroit-based architecture, engineering and planning firm, to help the city create a master plan for several riverfront parks and the trails that connect them.
"South Bend hasn't taken a comprehensive look at its riverfront in several decades," said Aaron Perri, the city's executive director of parks and recreation. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
The planning process will look at the entire stretch of river that winds through South Bend from Logan Street to Darden Road, but the focus will be on the riverfront between the South Bend Farmers Market and Leeper Park.
Under the agreement approved Thursday, the city will pay SmithGroupJJR up to $248,800 to complete a plan for the riverfront parks and trails. The fee will be paid with tax increment finance revenue from the city's River East Development Area. The agreement runs through May 26, 2017.
Perri said SmithGroupJJR has an impressive record of engaging people in the design process. In addition to formal hearings, firm will conduct surveys, set up "pop-up workshops" in parks to gather input from people who are using the public spaces, and hold neighborhood meetings and charrettes. Materials will be translated into Spanish as well, Perri said.